Tempering

After quenching, steel is too hard and brittle for use, and must be tempered prior to further working, or being put into service. Tempering is used to improve (reduce and control) hardness, strength, and toughness, while at the same time decreasing brittleness in fully hardened steel. Tempering is performed after quench hardening by heating the metal to a temperature below its critical point for a specific period of time followed by cooling. The tempering temperature and soak time, as well as the composition of the steel, determine the amount of hardness removed. Tempering requires precise time and temperature control during the entire process in order to reach the desired physical properties for the final product. Wisconsin Oven offers a wide range of batch and conveyor ovens and furnaces for tempering, with many optional items available to meet your specific requirements.